Good suggestion. Like "In memory of...."

I'm not objecting to asking them. That would be the thing to do IF I KNEW WHO THEY WERE and who to contact. Most times, I don't. So, being that they gave me permission to use the image, most times I just do.

How do you go ask them when you have close to 20,000 images from people you've fished and hunted with over the past 30 or 40 years? Impossible and impracticable!I can't even remember half their names let alone where they were from or their relatives. Come on!

What do you mean today? lol!!!

You're right. I apologize for the tone and for beginning this discussion the first place.

I think Keith would agree that a verbal agreement is as binding as a written one, especially if you have witnesses.

Impossible! For one, I might not know they are dead! If it's someone I goose hunted with 15 years ago and I shot an image of them holding a pair of snow geese, how do I know if they are still dead or alive? And how can I justify or find their relatives to get permission to use the image? Not going to happen.

Thanks Keith. That explains the legal rights. Now the ethical ones, which seemed to have started a fire storm. At least we're not talking about the best lens for my D-80 to take a image of my cat!

Rather odd pastime? You call writing articles and taking images for magazines a rather odd pastime? It's what I do for a living. I was asking a legitimate question. It's my understanding is that if I had the person's permission to take the shot originally I probably have the right to use it after they're gone, within reason. Obviously, there are some considerations, but I can't call everyone or contact their relatives every time I want to use an image. I have 10's of thousands of images that I've taken over the years. The attached image is of a friend of mine, Ed Jenkins, who was my mentor in the charter business. If he was looking down and saw it, he'd have that same, great big smile on his face. And I think his wife would approve too.

Thanks Roger. In many ways I think the image is a celebration of the person's life and a tribute to them. I hope people are still posting a image of mew with a big stringer of fish long after I'm gone.

What do mean different subject? This is the subject I had a question about. Good thing I'm not you. If you don't have anything to contribute, don't contribute. "Create some situations?" What in the hell are you talking about?

I don't have a release for many (most) of the images, but does it really matter at this point? Normally, I'm getting my friends or hunting and fishing partners to pose. They know what I do for a living so posing is a form of consent as far as I'm concerned. I've only had one incident where someone decided they didn't want me to use their image. Their attny asked what Kind of agreement I had to use their image and I told him I had their verbal consent. Never heard from him again. Just wondered if it's proper etiquette to use someones image on one of my article who is not with us anymore.

Are there any hard rules with regard to using images of people who are deceased? Is it just not proper etiquette or is it ok. Obviously, I might not have model release from them, but I have used their image in the past and wondered if it was still ok to use the images after their passing. I have some great images of a friend who passed and I'll like to use them again. Is that tacky? I also have some good shots of a friend's son who was killed in a car accident, but I have some great fishing images of him that I could submit with a story. If you don't keep contact with some people you never know if they're still around. Please advise.

I have no idea what LXW is?

Cindy:

When I send images that large there are times when I can only send them one at a time. I just e-mail 18 images to a magazine today and I had to send them two at a time. An ftp site is the other alternative. You should be able to just click on "adjust size" and be able to re-size them. I'm using a Mac OS too.